U.S. patent number 10,897,033 [Application Number 14/908,848] was granted by the patent office on 2021-01-19 for battery pack for electric power storage device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to LG CHEM, LTD.. The grantee listed for this patent is LG CHEM, LTD.. Invention is credited to Bum Hyun Lee, Jungil Park.
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United States Patent |
10,897,033 |
Lee , et al. |
January 19, 2021 |
Battery pack for electric power storage device
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a battery pack configured to have a
structure including at least one module assembly configured to have
a structure in which battery modules, each of which has a structure
in which a plurality of unit cells is stacked in a state in which
unit cells are electrically connected to each other, are arranged
such that the battery modules are adjacent to each other, a pair of
side plates coupled to each other for covering opposite sides of
the module assembly, a base plate having fastening parts, which are
coupled to the side plates, formed at one surface thereof and an
external mounting part, which is mounted to an external structure,
formed at the other surface thereof, and a sheathing cover coupled
to the base plate while covering the module assembly.
Inventors: |
Lee; Bum Hyun (Daejeon,
KR), Park; Jungil (Daejeon, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG CHEM, LTD. |
Seoul |
N/A |
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG CHEM, LTD. (Seoul,
KR)
|
Appl.
No.: |
14/908,848 |
Filed: |
August 14, 2014 |
PCT
Filed: |
August 14, 2014 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/KR2014/007570 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
January 29, 2016 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2015/026103 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
February 26, 2015 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20160164053 A1 |
Jun 9, 2016 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 23, 2013 [KR] |
|
|
10-2013-0100152 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01M
10/0525 (20130101); H01M 50/502 (20210101); H01M
10/425 (20130101); H01M 50/20 (20210101); H01M
2010/4271 (20130101); H01M 2220/10 (20130101); H01M
2220/20 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01M
10/0525 (20100101); H01M 10/42 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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7-69078 |
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Mar 1995 |
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JP |
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2004-161054 |
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Jun 2004 |
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JP |
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2006-185894 |
|
Jul 2006 |
|
JP |
|
2008-184015 |
|
Aug 2008 |
|
JP |
|
2008-277058 |
|
Nov 2008 |
|
JP |
|
2010-531535 |
|
Sep 2010 |
|
JP |
|
2011-40203 |
|
Feb 2011 |
|
JP |
|
2011-126396 |
|
Jun 2011 |
|
JP |
|
2011-171029 |
|
Sep 2011 |
|
JP |
|
2012-94456 |
|
May 2012 |
|
JP |
|
2012-243449 |
|
Dec 2012 |
|
JP |
|
2014-154831 |
|
Aug 2014 |
|
JP |
|
5968375 |
|
Jul 2016 |
|
JP |
|
19980048252 |
|
Sep 1998 |
|
KR |
|
10-2009-0000297 |
|
Jan 2009 |
|
KR |
|
10-2011-0062687 |
|
Jun 2011 |
|
KR |
|
10-2012-0054807 |
|
May 2012 |
|
KR |
|
10-2012-0093646 |
|
Aug 2012 |
|
KR |
|
10-2013-0017129 |
|
Feb 2013 |
|
KR |
|
WO-0079635 |
|
Dec 2000 |
|
WO |
|
WO 2012/057489 |
|
May 2012 |
|
WO |
|
WO 2012/070782 |
|
May 2012 |
|
WO |
|
WO 2013/089470 |
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Jun 2013 |
|
WO |
|
WO 2013/103211 |
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Jul 2013 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
Machine Translation of KR 10-2009-0000297 from EPO originally
published to Yang et al. on Jan. 7, 2009. cited by examiner .
Google Patents Machine translation of KR19980048252A originally
published to Park on Sep. 15, 1998 (Year: 1998). cited by examiner
.
International Search Report, issued in PCT/KR2014/007570, dated
Dec. 15, 2014. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Lee; James
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Birch, Stewart, Kolasch &
Birch, LLP
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A battery pack comprising: at least one module assembly having
at least two battery modules, each battery module including a
plurality of unit cells that is stacked in a state in which the
unit cells are electrically connected to each other, the at least
two battery modules being arranged such that the battery modules
are adjacent to each other in a first direction; a pair of side
plates covering opposite sides of the module assembly, each side
plate extending in the first direction; a base plate having
fastening parts, which are coupled to the side plates, formed at
one surface thereof and an external mounting part, which is mounted
to an external structure, formed at the other surface thereof, the
base plate having a first section with a first width and a second
section with a second width, the first width being smaller than the
second width and a flange extending upward from the base plate
along edges of the first section and second section; a sheathing
cover coupled to the base plate to cover the module assembly, the
sheathing cover having a top wall with a plurality of side edges
and side walls integrally connected to and extending from the side
edges of the top wall, the side walls extending from the side edges
to the base plate to completely cover the pair of side plates; and
a handle comprising a coupling part extending laterally from the
first section of the base plate and a grip part extending upwardly
from the coupling part, and the grip part spaced in a lateral
direction from the side walls of the sheathing cover to create a
gap between the grip part and the side walls of the sheathing
cover.
2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein each of the unit
cells is a single plate-shaped battery cell or a battery cell
assembly in which two or more plate-shaped battery cells are
mounted in a cell cover in a state in which electrode terminals are
exposed.
3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the plate-shaped
battery cell includes an electrode assembly mounted in a battery
case made of a laminate sheet comprising a metal layer and a resin
layer, and wherein an outer edge of the battery case is sealed.
4. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the plate-shaped
battery cell is a lithium secondary battery.
5. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein each of the
battery modules includes two or more unit cells that are stacked,
in a state in which each of the unit cells is mounted to a
corresponding cartridge, to form a unit cell stack structure, and
an upper plate and a lower plate are mounted to outermost unit
cells of the unit cell stack structure for fixing the unit cell
stack structure.
6. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein each of the side
plates is provided with two or more battery module coupling parts,
which are bent from an upper end of each of the side plates at a
right angle to the side plate so as to overlap and directly contact
top surfaces of the battery modules.
7. The battery pack according to claim 6, wherein each of the
battery module coupling parts is provided with a fastening hole,
through which each of the battery module coupling parts is coupled
to a corresponding upper corner of a corresponding one of the
battery modules.
8. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the module
assembly includes two battery modules that are arranged in a state
in which the battery modules are adjacent to each other laterally
with respect to a direction in which the unit cells are
stacked.
9. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the battery
modules are electrically connected to each other via a power wire
harness, a communication wire harness is connected to a controller
for controlling operation of the battery pack, and any one selected
from the group consisting of the power wire harness and the
communication wire harness is mounted along an outer surface of a
corresponding one of the side plates.
10. The battery pack according to claim 9, wherein the power wire
harness is mounted along the outer surface of one of the side
plates, and the communication wire harness is mounted along the
outer surface of the other side plate.
11. The battery pack according to claim 10, wherein the power wire
harness comprises a power line for interconnecting the battery
modules and a sensing line for transmitting voltages detected from
the battery modules.
12. The battery pack according to claim 10, wherein a three polar
power connector, which is connected to a positive electrode, a
negative electrode, and a ground wire, is electrically connected to
the battery modules, and an end of the ground wire contacts the
base plate for grounding.
13. The battery pack according to claim 12, wherein the ground wire
contacts a top surface of the base plate adjacent to an outer
surface of the side plate at which the power wire harness is
located.
14. The battery pack according to claim 10, wherein the
communication wire harness connects an inverter, which is connected
to an input and output terminal of the battery pack, to a battery
management system (BMS), which functions as the controller.
15. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the base plate
and/or the sheathing cover is provided with a reinforcement bead
having a concave and convex structure.
16. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the base plate
is provided with an air hole communicating with an outside.
17. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the external
mounting part has a downwardly bent protruding structure.
18. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the base plate
is provided at a bottom surface thereof with one or more mounting
brackets, through which the battery pack is mounted to an external
device or an external facility.
19. The battery pack according to claim 18, wherein the external
facility is a wall of a building.
20. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the coupling
part is attached to a bottom surface of the base plate.
21. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the handle is a
pair of handles, one of the pair of handles extends from each of
opposite sides of the first section of the base plate.
22. A device comprising a battery pack according to claim 1.
23. The device according to claim 22, wherein the device is a
household power supply, a power supply for public facilities, a
power supply for large-sized stores, a power supply for emergency,
a power supply for computer rooms, a portable power supply, a power
supply for medical facilities, a power supply for fire
extinguishing facilities, a power supply for alarm facilities, a
power supply for refuge facilities, an electric vehicle, a hybrid
electric vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a battery pack for electric power
storage devices.
BACKGROUND ART
In recent years, a secondary battery, which can be charged and
discharged, has been widely used as an energy source for wireless
mobile devices. In addition, the secondary battery has attracted
considerable attention as a power source for electric vehicles
(EV), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), and plug-in hybrid electric
vehicles (Plug-in HEV), which have been developed to solve
problems, such as air pollution, caused by existing gasoline and
diesel vehicles using fossil fuels.
In addition, technology related to an electric power storage device
that stores electric power and stably supplies the stored electric
power to a power system when needed has been developed. The
electric power storage device is a device that stores electric
power when electric power demand is low and supplies the stored
electric power in case of overload or emergency. The electric power
storage device provides the effect of improving quality of electric
power and energy efficiency. In particular, a market for a
household electric power storage device and a middle-sized
industrial or commercial electric power storage device has been
rapidly expanding as the electric power storage devices are related
to smart grid technology.
Meanwhile, in order for a battery pack to provide output and
capacity required by a predetermined apparatus or device, it is
necessary for the battery module to be configured to have a
structure in which a plurality of battery cells or a plurality of
battery modules, each of which includes a plurality of battery
cells, is electrically connected to each other in series or in
parallel. In addition, it is necessary for the battery pack to be
configured to have a structure that is easily extendable and stable
as the capacity of the battery pack is increased.
In addition, in a case in which a plurality of battery cells is
used to constitute a battery pack, a plurality of members, such as
bus bars and power cables, is needed for mechanical fastening and
electrical connection between the battery cells, and a process of
assembling the members is very complicated. In addition, in a case
in which it is necessary to extend the battery pack, it is
difficult to modify the structure of the battery pack. Furthermore,
a plurality of components is additionally needed, which increases
cost of manufacturing the battery pack.
Furthermore, the battery pack may be deteriorated, may be
short-circuited, and may explode due to expansion and contraction
of the battery cells caused due to repetitive charge and discharge
of the battery cells and due to malfunction of the battery ells.
Moreover, since the battery pack is assembled using a plurality of
components, interference between the components and wires, electric
leakages from the components and the wires, and short circuits in
the components and the wires may occur due to the complicated
structure in the battery pack. For these reasons, structural
stability of the battery pack is further required.
Meanwhile, it is necessary for a battery pack for household or
emergency electric power storage devices to be configured to have a
structure that is capable of being movable when needed or easily
being separately mounted to a specific place.
Therefore, there is a high necessity for technology that is capable
of solving the above problems and technical demands.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems and
other technical problems that have yet to be resolved.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a battery pack
that can be easily assembled, is generally compact, and exhibits
high structural stability.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a battery
pack configured to have a structure that can be easily separately
mounted to an external structure or an external device and exhibits
improved mobility.
Technical Solution
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above
and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a battery
pack configured to have a structure including (a) at least one
module assembly configured to have a structure in which battery
modules, each of which has a structure in which a plurality of unit
cells is stacked in a state in which unit cells are electrically
connected to each other, are arranged such that the battery modules
are adjacent to each other, (b) a pair of side plates coupled to
each other for covering opposite sides of the module assembly, (c)
a base plate having fastening parts, which are coupled to the side
plates, formed at one surface thereof and an external mounting
part, which is mounted to an external structure, formed at the
other surface thereof, and (d) a sheathing cover coupled to the
base plate while covering the module assembly.
That is, the battery pack according to the present invention is
configured to have a structure in which at least one module
assembly, constituted by a plurality of battery modules which are
coupled to each other, is mounted on a base plate in a state in
which side plates are coupled to the module assembly. Consequently,
it is possible to stably mount the battery modules in the battery
pack and to easily assemble the battery pack.
In addition, the battery pack according to the present invention
includes an external mounting part. Consequently, it is possible to
easily mount the battery pack to an external structure
In a concrete example, each of the unit cells may be a single
plate-shaped battery cell, or may be a battery cell assembly
configured to have a structure in which two or more plate-shaped
battery cells are mounted in a cell cover in a state in which
electrode terminals are exposed.
For example, the plate-shaped battery cell may be a pouch-shaped
battery cell configured to have a structure in which an electrode
assembly is mounted in a battery case made of a laminate sheet
including a metal layer and a resin layer.
Specifically, the battery cell may be a pouch-shaped battery cell
configured to have a structure in which an electrode assembly of a
positive electrode/separator/negative electrode structure is
contained in a battery case together with an electrolyte in a
sealed state. The battery cell may be a plate-shaped battery cell
configured to have an approximately rectangular hexahedral
structure having a small thickness to width ratio. In general, the
pouch-shaped battery cell may include a pouch-shaped battery case.
The battery case is configured to have a laminate sheet structure
in which an outer coating layer made of a polymer resin exhibiting
high durability, a barrier layer made of a metal material blocking
moisture or air, and an inner sealant layer made of a thermally
bondable polymer resin are sequentially stacked.
The battery case of the pouch-shaped battery cell may be configured
to have various structures. For example, the case of the
pouch-shaped battery cell may be configured to have a structure in
which an electrode assembly is received in a receiving part formed
at an upper inner surface and/or a lower inner surface of a
two-unit member, and the upper and lower contact regions of the
outer edge of the battery case are sealed by thermal bonding. The
pouch-shaped battery cell with the above-stated construction is
disclosed in PCT International Application No. PCT/KR2004/003312,
which has been filed in the name of the applicant of the present
patent application. The disclosure of the above-mentioned patent
application is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set
forth herein. Alternatively, the battery case may be configured to
have a structure in which an electrode assembly is received in a
receiving part formed at an upper inner surface and/or a lower
inner surface of a one-unit member, and the upper and lower contact
regions of the outer edge of the battery case are sealed by thermal
bonding.
The battery cell is not particularly restricted so long as the
battery cell is capable of providing high voltage and high current
when a battery module or a battery pack is constituted using the
battery cell. For example, the battery cell may be a lithium
secondary battery having a large amount of energy storage per
volume.
In a concrete example, each of the battery modules may be
configured to have a structure in which two or more unit cells are
stacked, in a state in which each of the unit cells is mounted to a
corresponding cartridge, to form a unit cell stack structure, and
an upper plate and a lower plate are mounted to the outermost unit
cells of the unit cell stack structure for fixing the unit cell
stack structure. For example, each of the cartridges, which form
the unit cell stack structure, may be provided with fastening
holes, and fastening members are fixed to the upper and lower
plates through the fastening holes such that the unit cell stack
structure can be fixed between the upper and lower plates.
Meanwhile, each of the side plates may be provided with two or more
battery module coupling parts, which extend from an upper end of
each of the side plates and are bent so as to contact the top
surfaces of the battery modules, for fixing the battery modules.
Each of the battery module coupling parts may be provided with a
fastening hole, through which each of the battery module coupling
parts is coupled to a corresponding upper corner of a corresponding
one of the battery modules. Bolts or rivets may be inserted through
the fastening holes such that battery module coupling parts are
coupled to the battery modules.
The number of the battery modules included in the module assembly
is not particularly restricted. One or more battery modules may be
arranged in a state of being electrically connected to each other
based on desired output or capacity. For example, the module
assembly may be configured to have a structure in which two battery
modules are arranged in a state in which the battery modules are
adjacent to each other laterally with respect to a direction in
which the unit cells are stacked.
Meanwhile, a conventional battery pack includes a complicated
wiring structure therein. In such a complicated wiring structure,
the battery pack may malfunction due to interference or noise.
The battery pack according to the present invention may be
configured to have a structure including a power harness for
interconnecting the battery modules and a communication wire
harness that is connected to a controller for controlling the
operation of the battery pack, and the power wire harness and the
communication wire harness are spaced apart from each other to
prevent the occurrence of the above-mentioned problems.
In a concrete example, data that are transmitted through the
communication wire harness may be damaged due to noise generated in
a case in which the communication wire harness is adjacent to the
power wire harness, which is connected to input and output
terminals of the battery modules, with the result that the battery
pack may malfunction. In order to solve this problem, any one
selected from between the power wire harness and the communication
wire harness is mounted along the outer surface of a corresponding
one of the side plates such that the power wire harness and the
communication wire harness are spaced apart from each other.
In a more concrete example, the power wire harness may be mounted
along the outer surface of one of the side plates, and the
communication wire harness may be mounted along the outer surface
of the other side plate, in order to prevent malfunction of the
battery pack.
The power wire harness may include a power line for interconnecting
the battery modules and a sensing line for transmitting voltages
detected from the battery modules.
A three polar power connector, which is connected to a positive
electrode, a negative electrode, and a ground wire, may be
electrically connected to the battery modules, and the power
connector may be connected to the end of the power line. The end of
the ground wire may contact the base plate for grounding in order
to prevent the occurrence of an electric leakage and to prevent
noise from being generated in the communication wire harness.
The ground wire may contact the top surface of the base plate
adjacent to the outer surface of the side plate at which the power
wire harness is located. However, the present invention is not
limited thereto. For example, the ground wire may contact any
region so long as the region is spaced apart or isolated from the
communication wire harness in order to prevent noise from being
generated in the communication wire harness.
The communication wire harness may connect an inverter, which is
connected to an input and output terminal of the battery pack, to a
battery management system (BMS), which functions as the
controller.
The base plate and/or the sheathing cover may be provided at the
outer surface thereof with a reinforcement bead having a concave
and convex structure for improving rigidity of the base plate
and/or the sheathing cover.
In addition, the base plate may be provided with an air hole
communicating with the outside such that heat generated from the
battery modules is discharged through the air hole.
Meanwhile, the sheathing cover of the battery pack may be provided
at one side or each side thereof with a handle for transportation,
which enables easy transportation of the battery pack. The handle
for transportation may be configured in various forms.
Specifically, a portion of the sheathing cover may be depressed or
may protrude to form the handle for transportation, or a
handle-type member may be mounted at the sheathing cover.
For example, the handle for transportation may include a grip part,
at which a handle-type member is mounted, and a coupling part
extending to one side of the grip part and mechanically coupled to
the base plate.
The external mounting part of the base plate is a structure that is
mounted at the external structure. The external mounting part may
be configured in various forms. For example, the external mounting
part may be configured to have a downwardly bent protruding
structure, and the external structure may be provided with a recess
or a catching structure, in which the downwardly bent protruding
structure of the external mounting part is mounted.
In another example of the external mounting part of the base plate,
the base plate may be provided at the bottom surface thereof with
one or more mounting brackets, through which the battery pack is
mounted to an external device or an external facility. The
structure of the mounting brackets is not particularly restricted.
That is, the mounting brackets may have various structures. The
external facility may be a wall of a building. Consequently, the
battery pack may be easily mounted to or separated from the
wall.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a device including the battery pack as a power source.
Specifically, the device may be a household power supply, a power
supply for public facilities, a power supply for large-sized
stores, a power supply for emergency, a power supply for computer
rooms, a portable power supply, a power supply for medical
facilities, a power supply for fire extinguishing facilities, a
power supply for alarm facilities, a power supply for refuge
facilities, an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, or a
plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. However, the present invention is
not limited thereto.
The structure and manufacturing method of the device are well known
in the art to which the present invention pertains, and therefore a
detailed description thereof will be omitted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the
present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pouch-shaped battery cell
according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a battery module constituting
a module assembly in a battery pack according to the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a battery pack according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the battery pack with a
sheathing cover removed from FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the battery pack with side
plates removed from FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 4;
FIG. 8 is a bottom view of FIG. 4; and
FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing a ground portion of FIG. 4.
BEST MODE
Now, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It
should be noted, however, that the scope of the present invention
is not limited by the illustrated embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pouch-shaped battery cell
constituting a unit cell in a battery pack according to the present
invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, a battery cell 10 is a plate-shaped battery
cell 10 having electrode terminals (a positive electrode terminal
11 and a negative electrode terminal 12) formed at one end thereof.
Specifically, the plate-shaped battery cell 10 is configured to
have a structure in which an electrode assembly (not shown) is
mounted in a pouch-shaped battery case 13 made of a laminate sheet
including a metal layer (not shown) and a resin layer (not shown),
and a sealed portion 14 is formed at the battery case 13, for
example, by thermal bonding. Generally, the battery cell with the
above-stated construction may also be referred to as a pouch-shaped
battery cell.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a battery module constituting
a module assembly in a battery pack according to the present
invention.
Referring to FIG. 2 together with FIG. 1, a battery module 110 is
configured to have a structure in which a plurality of unit cells
10 is stacked, in a state in which each of the unit cells 10 is
mounted to a corresponding cartridge 112, to form a unit cell stack
structure, and upper and lower plates 114 and 115 are mounted to
the outermost unit cells 10 of the unit cell stack structure for
fixing the unit cell stack structure. Each of the cartridges 112 is
provided at corners thereof with fastening holes, and each of the
upper and lower plates 114 and 115 is provided at corners thereof
with fastening holes 117, which correspond to the fastening holes
of the cartridges 112.
That is, in a state in which the upper plate 114 and the lower
plate 115 are located at the uppermost unit cell 10 and the
lowermost unit cell 10 of the unit cell stack structure,
respectively, fastening members 118 are inserted through the
fastening holes 117 of the upper and lower plates 114 and 115 and
the fastening holes of the cartridges 112 such that the unit cell
stack structure is fixed between the upper and lower plates 114 and
115.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a battery pack according to an
embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective
view showing the battery pack with a sheathing cover removed from
FIG. 3.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a battery pack 100 includes a module
assembly 120, side plates 130, a base plate 140, and a sheathing
cover 150.
The module assembly 120 is configured to have a structure in which
two battery modules 110, each of which is configured to have a
structure in which a plurality of unit cells is electrically
connected to each other in a state of being stacked, are arranged
in a state in which the battery modules are adjacent to each other
laterally with respect to a direction in which the unit cells are
stacked. The side plates 130 are mounted to opposite sides of the
module assembly 120, and are coupled to the base plate 140 while
fixing the battery modules 110 of the module assembly 120.
The sheathing cover 150 is configured to have a structure for
covering the module assembly 120. The sheathing cover 150 is
coupled to the base plate 140. The sheathing cover 150 is provided
at the outer surface thereof with a reinforcement bead 152 having a
concave and convex structure for improving rigidity of the
sheathing cover 150.
The base plate 140 is provided with fastening parts, which are
coupled to the side plates 130. In addition, the base plate 140 is
provided with an external mounting part, which is mounted to an
external structure.
The sheathing cover 150 is provided at opposite sides thereof with
handles 160 for transportation, which enable easy transportation of
the battery pack.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the battery pack with the side
plates removed from FIG. 4
Referring to FIG. 5, each of the side plates 130 is provided with a
plurality of battery module coupling parts 132, which extend from
the upper end of each of the side plates 130 and are bent so as to
contact the top surfaces of the battery modules 110, for fixing the
battery modules 110. Each of the battery module coupling parts 132
is provided with a fastening hole 134, through which each of the
battery module coupling parts 132 is coupled to a corresponding
upper corner of a corresponding one of the battery modules 110.
Bolts or rivets may be coupled to the upper corners of the battery
modules 110 through the fastening holes 134 such that the side
plates 130 are coupled to the battery modules 110.
In addition, the lower end of each of the side plates 130 is bent
so as to contact the base plate 140 in a surface contact fashion
such that each of the side plates 130 is coupled to the base plate
140. The bent lower end of each of the side plates 130 is provided
with fastening holes 136, through which bolts or rivets are
inserted such that each of the side plates 130 is coupled to the
base plate 140.
FIGS. 6 to 8 are a plan view, a side view, and a bottom view of
FIG. 4, respectively.
Referring first to FIG. 6, a power wire harness 170 and a
communication wire harness 180 are mounted outside the side plates
130, which are coupled to the opposite sides of the module assembly
120. Specifically, the power wire harness 170 is mounted along the
outer surface of one side plate 130a, and the communication wire
harness 180 is mounted along the outer surface of the other side
plate 130b opposite to the side plate 130a at which the power wire
harness 170 is mounted. As a result, the power wire harness 170 and
the communication wire harness 180 are physically spaced apart from
each other, and therefore noise is prevented from being generated
in the communication wire harness 180 due to the power wire harness
170.
The power wire harness 170 includes a power line for
interconnecting the battery modules 110 and a sensing line for
transmitting voltages detected from the battery modules. The
communication wire harness 180 connects an inverter, which is
connected to an input and output terminal of the battery pack, to a
battery management system (BMS), which functions as a
controller.
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 together with FIG. 6, the handles 160
for transportation, which enable easy transportation of the battery
pack 100, are formed at opposite sides of the base plate 140. Each
of the handles 160 for transportation includes a grip part 162, at
which a handle-type member is mounted, and a coupling part 164,
which extends to one side of the grip part 162 and is mechanically
coupled to the base plate 140.
The base plate 140 is provided at the bottom surface thereof with
an external mounting part 144, which is mounted to an external
structure. The external mounting part 144 is configured to have a
downwardly bent protruding structure. Although not shown in the
figures, the external structure may be provided with a recess or a
catching structure, in which the downwardly bent protruding
structure of the external mounting part 144 is mounted, such that
the external mounting part can be mounted to the external
structure.
In addition, the base plate 140 is provided with air holes 146,
which communicate with the outside such that heat generated from
the battery modules 110 can be discharged to the outside through
the air holes 146.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing a ground portion of FIG. 4.
Referring to FIG. 9 together with FIG. 6, a three polar power
connector 190, which is connected to a positive electrode, a
negative electrode, and a ground wire, is electrically connected to
the battery modules 110. The power connector 190 is connected to
the end of a power line of the power wire harness 170. The end of
the ground wire 192 contacts the base plate 140 for grounding to
prevent the occurrence of an electric leakage and to prevent noise
from being generated in the communication wire harness 180.
The ground wire 192 is connected to the top surface of the base
plate 140 adjacent to the outer surface of the side plate 130 at
which the power wire harness 170 is located.
Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have
been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art
will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
As is apparent from the above description, a battery pack according
to the present invention is configured to have a structure in which
a module assembly, constituted by a plurality of battery modules
which are coupled to each other, is mounted on a base plate in a
state in which side plates are coupled to the module assembly.
Consequently, it is possible to stably mount the battery modules in
the battery pack and to easily assemble the battery pack.
In addition, the battery pack according to the present invention
includes an external mounting part. Consequently, it is possible to
easily mount the battery pack to an external structure.
Furthermore, in the battery pack according to the present
invention, a power wire harness and a communication wire harness
are spaced apart from each other, and a power line of the power
wire harness is connected to the base plate. Consequently, it is
possible to prevent noise from being generated in the communication
wire harness, thereby preventing malfunction of the battery pack
and improving safety of the battery pack.
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